De-essing a vocal track

…We now know that de-essing is frequency specific compression.…Let's put a de-esser to work on a vocal track.…Take a listen to this vocal passage paying particular attention to the s sounds.…Because this S sounds will likely get a bit crispy as we add some top and queue to…the mix, especially on the words asleep, chills and…spine, we can use a de-esser to tame that sibilance.…I like to use my de-essers before applying compression in EQ.…So I can get the bad stuff out of the way before it hits my other processors.…Now listen again as I activate the de-esser.…

It's subtle but effective.…Using a high frequency only de-esser, all I'm doing here is…just taking a bit of the edge off those particularly sibilant words.…Many de-essers allow you to preview the side chain…signal and tune the frequency band to match the track.…So you might try selecting a particularly sibilant passage to play back in a…loop, and sweep through the frequencies until…you hear it get really nasty and resonant.…Setting up the target frequency is key because you don't…

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Released

12/4/2013

Learn advanced Pro Tools mixing techniques, in a different way. The groundbreaking Get in the Mix learning experience allows you to watch Brian Lee White and Alex Case perform audio adjustments inside Pro Tools, while they explain their reasoning in the built-in video window. You don't watch in a video player; you learn inside the DAW itself.

This course covers 26 techniques for improving your mixes with compressors, processors, EQ and filters, reverb, delay, and modulation. The first chapter covers compression and dynamics processing, including how to even out vocal performances and how to add punch to drum tracks. The second chapter goes into EQ and filtering techniques, such as creating complimentary EQ curves and EQ-ing FX returns. Next, the authors explore delay and modulation techniques, including using long delay on key lyrics and creating flanger and phaser effects. The last chapter explores reverb techniques including using gated reverb and supporting a track with regenerative reverb. .

Download the free exercise files and open them in Pro Tools to start training, or simply watch the videos here at lynda.com.